Hydraulic toy



Jan. 10, 1933. L, RANNEY 1,893,507

HYDRAULIC TOY original Filed July 5. 1929 :s sheets-smet 1 lNVENTOR L e0 Re rmeu BYQ yez l;

- ATTQRNEYS Jan. 10, 1933. L.. RANNEY 1,893,507

HYDRAULIC 'rof V original Filed July 5. 1929 5 sheets-sheet, 2

INVENTOR Y Le@ Rmnneg A'ITGR EYS L. RANNEY HYDRAULIC TOY Jan. l0, 1933..

original Filed July 5. 192e -3 sheets-S1196@ 3 uNvENToR o tion includes expelling a stream of gas bubso lift pump,

Patented Jan. '10, 1933 LEO BANNEY, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

HYDRAULIC TOY Application filed July 5, 1929, Serial No.

This invention relates to toys, more particularly to hydraulic toys which ope'rate as a result of movement of a stream of water or other liquid.

The most popular types of toy nowadays are those which attain realism by the active performance of some function. In the case of hydraulic toys there are and may be designed avast number of species of toy which may be made realistic and entertaining provided there is available some satisfactory means for elevating or circulating or pumping a stream of water or other liquid. The primary object of my invention is to fulll this need, and to provide an exceedingly simple and economical means for causing the desired movement or circulation of a liquid from, say, a relatively low level'to a relatively high level, and to this end my invenbles into the liquid at the loW level. In this manner blocks or chunks of the liquid are' trapped between successive rising bubbles of the gas, and thevliquid is thereby put into motion. From another viewpoint we may say that the column of liquid which is lightened by the gas bubbles is raised by the surrounding body of denser liquid.

More specifically, I have invented a toy air in which a stream of water is caused to flow through a conduit by feeding air bubbles into the conduit. In many cases the conduit is relatively upright, and only one end thereof is immersed in the water, and in such case the air bubbles are fed into the conduit at a point below the water level, and most simply, at the foot or immersed end of the conduit.

A further object of my invention is to improve the operation ofsuch a toy pump,an with this in view I have found it expedient to provide the lower or foot end of the conduit with an enlarged mouth or funnelshaped opening, into which the air supply is introduced.

A still further ob]ect of my invention is to provide an appropriately simple and economical source of air supply, which I do by the use of an inflatable elastic air bladder,

0 niuch like a toy balloon, which may be ind ply source 6.

375,242. Renewed November as, iss.

Hated by the user at the time the toy is to be placed in operation. This incidentally simplifies a problem which arises with thoseforms of toy which are ropelled or swim along the surface of a body of water, for in such cases the air bladder also ioats on the surface of the water and is simply towed. along by the'toy, until the air ,supply is exhausted. This bladder may be made relativey ly elongated and painted andl decorated to resemble a sail boat or other iioating object.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the pump and toy elements and their relation one to the other as hereinafter are more particularly described in the speciication and sought to be defined in the claims. The specification is accompanied by drawings in which:

Fig. l illustrates my invention as applied to a toy spouting whale;

Fig. 2 shows a modified form of toy whale arranged to swim as well as to spout;

Fig. 2a is a detail ofa inch cock plcyed in the toy illustrated 1n Fig. 2;

ig. 3 illustrates a toy stern paddle wheel steam boat; -y

Fig. 4 represents a toy mill wheel;

Fig. 5 shows a miniature cascade fountain;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a toy ducking 8 Wheel; y y

Fig. 7 is an end elevation thereof;

. Fig. 8 is a section through a toy yeoiee percolator; and

Fig.' 9 representsa spouting floating frog. 85

Referring to Fig. 1, there is a ioating toy 2, preferably simulatingr a whale, which is provided with an airli t pump 4, to which there is connectedav'suitable gas orair sup- 90 The toy 2 may conveniently and economically be manufactured of hollow celluloid or like material, in a'manner which is commonly employed in the manufacture of inactive floating toys, With such a construction the apertures through which the pump is inserted are sealed to prevent leakage of water into the body of the toy.

The pump 4 consists of an upright riser or conduit 8, which need not be, but preferably is, provided with an enlarged mouth or well be employed. I An example of such a proinverted funnel-shaped end 10. In case the ump mechanism is insuilicient in weight to have the desired ballast-ing effect it may be additionally weighted, as is indicated by the annular weight 12.

The air nozzle 14 extends into the enlargef ment 10 and is provided with an air discharge opening 16. The protrudin end of the nozzle 14 acts' as a nipple over w ich one end of a flexible connecting tube 20 is connected;

The source 6 most simply consistsV of an infiatable elastic sac or bladder resembling a rubber toy balloon, blown full of air through a neck 22, over which the other end of the interconnecting tube 20 may thereafter be slipped.

The riser 8 of the pump may be inclined slightly to the rear, as shown, if it is desired to obtain a` propulsiva effect due to the reac- V tion of the force required to shoot the exbeing expelled or spouted from the upper end pelled stream or chunks of water backward.

In operation, air discharged from the source6 escapes through the opening 16 inside of the enlargement 10 at the foot of the conduit 8, and the resulting bubbles of air rise up the conduit. Chunks or blocks of water are trapped therebetween, and are carried upward, resulting in a stream of water of the riser 8, which is appropriately located to represent the blow hole of the whale, the water being expelled with considerable force and height, even in the case of relatively tiny Celluloid toys. f..

' 12. The air nozzle 14 in The modified form of spouting whale illustrated in Fig. 2A is similar to that shown in Fig. 1 in comprising a float-ing air tight whale body2, to which is sealed an air lift pump 4 comprising an upright conduit 8, provided with an enlargement 10 and a ballast weight this case is illustrated as having its discharge o ening 16 pointed downwardly, for I have ound that this docs not at all adversely affect the operation ofthe pump. The present form of toy also differsin being equipped with a rearwardly pointed discharge opening 24, expulsion of air through which serves to propel the toy along the surfaceof the water. In order tomake the use of the propulsion or swimming feature of the tov optional the nozzle 24 may be equipped with an extension 26. consisting of a short piece of rubber tubing. and a throttle or pinch cock element 28. which, as is best shown in Fig. 2a, is formed with a triangular or wedge sh ped opening nog the tube 26 through:

The foregoing propulsion means has been selected merely by way of illustration, for any propulsion means, particularly if responsive to air supplied thereto, may equally the water pump 4 and the propulsion nozzle 24 are both supplied with air from the body of the toy, in a manner which is obvious from an inspection of the drawings. Asource of air supply is connected-to the other end of the tube-20, as before.

Attention is now directed to the form of the invention shown in Fig. 3, which represents a stern paddle wheel river steam boat. boat consists of a hull 32, which, if necessary, may be suitably ballasted by a weighted keel 34. The boat also carries a pump arrangement 4, consisting of a riser or conduit 38, which in this case is illustrated as being tapered for part of its length, while to the mouth or enlarged end thereof an air nozzle 40 is fitted. An air supply tube 20 is run from the nozzle 40 to a suitable source'of air, which may be an inflated elastic bladder, such as gre bladder 6 described in connection with The pump 4 serves to expel a stream ofy water, mixed with air bubbles, from the trailing end of the conduit 38, which in this case is located at or beneath the surface of the water, and this efi'ect may alone be used to propel the boat along the surface of the water. During its travel 1t may tow the air sac 6 along with it.

In order to improve the appearance ofthe toy, and increase the operating efiiciency thereof, I mount a freely rotatable paddle wheel 42 in a yoke 44 fixed to the stern of the hull 32. The paddles of the wheel 42 are lccated in the path of the stream expelled from the conduit 38. In this manner the addle The wheel is caused to revolve, which en ances the realism of the operation of the toy, and, at the same time, owing to the breadth of the in dividual paddle wheels. the energy of the escaping stream ficiently transferred to the main body of water and utilized to propel the ship along the surface thereof.

Ln Fig. 4 I have illustrated a toy 'which simulates an old mill wheel. There is a mill house 50, on which is mounted a mill wheel or bucket wheel 52.- The mill house and wheel may be mounted over a self contained reservoir or tray 54, or, if desired, may be arranged to float on the surface water. The former arrangement is here ils lustrated, the reservoir or tray 54 being filled with water, which is utilized in continuous circulation when the toy is inioperation, so

of a large body of that the available water is n'ot exhausted and need not be replenished.

As before, the toy is provided wit-h a pump system 4, comprising in this case an upright conduit provided with a return bend 56, bringing the discharge end thereof over the buckets of the mill wheel 52. The entrant end of the conduit is provided with an enlarged foot 58, which acts also as a pedestal to help support the conduit. The pump is provided with an air nozzle 60, to which air is fed through a tube 20 from any suitable source, as has been before outlined.

In operation, the discharged bubbles of air cause a stream of water to flow through the conduit and this stream of water falls upon the buckets of the the latter to revolve. The exhaust wat-er s discharged from the buckets back into the reservoir 54, where it may again be elevated to rotate the mill wheel, so long as the air supply is maintained.

Fig. 5 illustrates how my novel toy pump may e applied to a miniature fountain. In this case the liquid which is pumped up through the riser 62 is discharged as a spray fountain from the upper end thereof, the liquid thereafter falling back into the reservoir 64. In order to improve the display and beauty of the fountain the riser 62 may be provided with a series of trays 66, of successively increasing diameter, so that the fountain liquid is returned to the lreservoir only after a series of interrupted drops yor cascades.

This device may be used as a toy, or it may be used for decorative purposes. The liquid may be a perfume, instead of plain water, at the time of an appropriate social occasion.

Attention is next directed to the toy ducking wheel illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. This consists of a main body or wheel 70, which may be spherical in shape, as illustrated, and pivoted for free rotation on an axis 72, the ends of which are bent to form integrally therewith'a substructure or suspended yoke 74. On the periphery of the. Wheel there are mounted a series of blades or vanes 76, and a series of small figures, 7 8, simulating human beings or animals or both. The wheel 70 is preferably made by cementing together two semi-circular halves of Celluloid-like material, and in such case the figures 78 may be formed integrally therewith, the dividing seam between `the halves passing through the center of each of the figures, as is indicated in Fig. 7

The toy floats on the surface of the water, in either of two positions, one with the Water level below the axis, in which case no water is inside of the wheel, and the other with the axis T2 at or slightly below the level of the water, which is the position assumed when water is permitted to enter inside the wheel.

' rThe latter position is slightly advantageous mill wheel 52 and causesv in permitting more rapid rotation of the wheel.

To the yoke 74 there is fixed a conduit 80, and an air nozzle 82, directed thereinto. Air is supplied to the nozzle 82 by a flexible rubber tube 20. A stream of water and air bubbles is thus directed upwardly and impinges upon the blades or vanes 7 6,4 and causes the wheel 70 to revolve, thereby ducking the toy figures 7 8 successively into water, to the great amusement of the childoperating the toy. At the same time, due to the engagement of the paddles 76 With the main body of water there is a gradual travel of the toy through the water, which is not hindered if the source of air supply is an elastic bladder such as has already been mentioned, for this may be towed along with the toy.

I ind that the water and air circulation may be used directly to operate the toy successfully even if the conduit 80 is omitted, and

the main body of I therefore wish it to be understood that the v use of the conduit 80 is optional.

In Fig. 8 I have illustrated how my invention may be applied to actuate percolator. This toy comprises an external body portion provided, as is customary, with a spout 92, a handle 94, and a cover 96, the dome 98 of which is made of glass, all in simulation of a real coffee percolator. Within the percolator there is set an upright conduit or riser 100 which carries at its upper extremity a tray strainer or sieve-like bottom 103, which may be used to carry coffee or any coffee resemf' bling substance. The bottom of the riser 100 is aixed to a base or support 104, the bottom edge of which is provided with openings or recesses 106 so as to be in flow communication with the main body of liquid 108 which is carried by the percolator body 90.

Air is supplied through an air supply tube 20 to a nipple 110, which passes throughappropriate perforations in the percolator body 90 and the coffee tray 102. To the inner end of the nipple 110 there is attached a tube 112 which is connected to a nozzle`114 leading inside of the enlarged base 104. In operation the bubbles of air admitted beneath the base 104 rise up the conduit 100 and carry with them blocks of water which are sprayed in intermittent fashion against the glass dome 98, the water thereafter falling through the tray 102 and whatever substance may be carried thereby, and tin ally returning to the main body of liquid 108 through the strainer or sieve-like bottom 103 of the tray 102.

The spurting or spluttering'of the cona toy coffee or open vessel 102, having a stance carried in th'e tray 102, and finally ma, be poured out of the spout 92 when the coffee has been prepared to the desired strength or color. v

In Fig. 9 I show a modified toy in combi-` I with an enlarged foot 124, into which leads i air is applied to the toy,

of the enlarged foot 124.

an air nipple 126. A ballast weight 128 may be provided, and is so positioned along the riser 122 as to keep the toy in desired position or balance on the surface of the water. In operation, if a relatively slow supply of water is ejected from the mouth thereof in spurts as though the frog were spitting during its swim. The rreaction to the expulsion of the water from the mouth of the tqy tends to move the toy backward and this movement may be increased by increasing the rapidity of the air supply. If the rate of air supply is still further increased the air maybe made to accumulate in the enlarged foot 124 faster than it is relieved by discharge through the riser 122, and this so lightens or buoys upward the toy 120 that t-he latter may be made to rise upward out of the water with a sort of hopping movement, after which the toy again settles onto the water, owing to relief or discharge of the excess air from beneath the periphery Air will then again accumulate beneath the foot, and the operation be repeated in continuoussequcnce. The various resulting movements, together with the expulsion of Water from the mouth of the toy, all lend to realistic and amusing operation.

In this case I have illustrated a modified form of air bladder or-balloon, consisting of an elastic rubber bladder 130 which is made relatively elongated in configuration, and which is provided with a discharge nipple '132 at one end thereof, and an inlet nipple 134 at the other end thereof. "The discharge nipple 132 may be a simple neck or outlet arranged to have the air supply tube 13,6 fitted over the end thereof. The inlet nipple 134 is provided with a valve, so that the bladder may be inflatedby blowing air therethrough, but lthe air does not thereafter escape from the nipple 134 but must flow out of the dischargenipple 132.

The inlet nipple 134. While intended for direct inflation, is nevertheless made small:

in diameter so as to accommodate an interconnecting tube, such as the tube 136, in case it is desired to connect several of the air supply bladders in series. In such case it is merely necessary `to connectl the discharge nipple of the additional bladder to the inlet nipple ofthe nextbladder through an inter- .I

connecting tube of suitable length.

Another desirable feature ent air supply unit is that it is appropriately painted and colored to resemble a subject which might be found on the surface of the Water. In the present case, for example, the sides of the bladder are painted to resemble a sail boat. is provided with a fin 138, most simply formed by cementing the edges of the bladder together. To the fin 138 a slightcballast weight 140 may be added in order to keep the bladder in proper position relative to the features painted on lthe surface thereof. It goes without saying that these bladders may be given different shapes and may be painted to resemble various fish, animals, boats, cr even, say, a floating islan It will be understood that the foregoing forms of toy are merely representative, and not exclusive, for many others may readily be suggested, such as a flowing spring, or an artesian well, or a toy water fall. Also, the fountain may be modified to represent a frog or other animal expelling water from its mouth. A toy steam boat may be constructed Whichcombines the features of the arrangements shown in Figs'. 3 and 4 of the present disclosure, that is to say, water may elevated by my novel air lift pump and "caused to drop upon the paddles of the stern lpaddle wheel, the wheel being caused to rotate by gravity, and rotation of the wheel serving to propel the boat through the water. The toy steam boat illustrated in Fig. 3 may also be modified by the use of a pair o f side paddle wheels instead of a. single stern wheel; In such case the riser is divided into two branches in the form of a Y, a portion of the mixed air and water stream flowing through either branch. The endsv of the branches are each directed against the paddle wheel blades in a manner similar to that employed in the case of the stern paddle wheel illustrated in Fig. 3.

In operating the air lift pump it is desirable to have the level of the water surrounding the riser as high as possible, preferably almost as high as the riser itself, and at least about one quarter as high as the riser.- The riser should be moderately small in diameter so that chunks or blocks of water will be efficiently trapped between successive air bubbles, the air bubbles serving to fill the riser completely in a transverse direction. In other words, if the riser is made very much Itoo large in diamete` there is a tendency for the air bubbles to rise through the body of Water contained within the riser without putting this water `completely into motion,

the engagement .then being practically only that of friction. By employing appropriately small sized interconnecting and/or discharge tubes the about the pres-` air supply ma be kept up for a relativelyv long period o time even though it be obtained from a simple inflatable bladder. Due to the back ressure of the water the air is expelled an consumed only in intermittent bubbles. With practically no precaution at all the toys may be run for at least several minutes, and by using two air bladders in series and smaller bore tubing I have operated these toys continuously for about an hour and aY quarter.

For convenience in coupling the tube to the toys the' nipple may be left on the tube and inserted with a tight t into the toys.

The mode of operation of my novel tcys will be understood from the foregoing escription, and in general, consists in putting a liquid into motion or circulation, or in elevating it from a relatively low to a relatively high level, by emitting or expellin bubbles of a gas into the liquid. The liqui ordinarily is water, but need not be so, and the gas ordinarily is air, but also need not be so, as for example, if a tank of compressed nitrogen or oxygen or other gas is available.

It will be apparent that while I have shown and described my invention in the preferred forms, many changes and modifications may be made in the structures disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention, defined in the following claims.

I claim:

l. A toy comprising a floating toy member, means to actuate the same including a relatively upright conduit the lower end of which is immersed in the body of water on which the toy floats,van enlarged mouth at the lower end thereof, an inflatable elastic air bladder also adapted to float on the body-of water, and a flexible tube leading from the bladder to the enlarged mouth of the conduit in order to feed a continuous supply of air bubbles thereto during the deflation of the ybladder and thereby pump water upwardly through the conduit for actuating the toy.

2. A toy comprising a floating ltoy member, means to propel the sameincludmg a relatively upright but at least partially 1nclined conduit the lower end of which is immersed in the body of water on which the toy floats, an enlarged mouth at the lower end thereof, an inflatable elastic air bladder also adapted to float on the body of water, andI a. flexible tube leading from the bladder to the enlarged mouth of lthe conduit in order to feed a continuous supply of air bubbles thereto during the deflation of the bladder and thereby pump water upwardly through the conduit for propelling the toy.

3. A -toy comprising a rotatable toy member, means to rotate the same including a relatively upright conduit the lower end of which is immersed in water, an enlarged mouth at the lower end thereof, an inflatable elastic air bladder, and a tube leading from tion of the bladder and thereby the bladder to the enlarged mouth of the conduit in order to feed a continuous supply of air bubbles thereto during the deflation of the bladder and thereb pump water u wardly through the con uit for rotating the toy member.

4. A floating toy comprising a rotatable toy member, means cluding a relatively upright conduibthe lower end of which is immersed in the `body of water on which the toy floats, an enlar ed mouth at the lower end thereof, an inflata vle elastic air bladder also adapted to float on the body of water, and a flexible tube leadin from the bladder to the enlarged mouth o the conduit in order to feed a continuous supply of air bubbles thereto during the deflaump water upwardly through the conduit or rotating the toy member. v

5. A floating toy comprising a rotatable member for propelling the toy in the water, means to rotate the said member including a relatively upright but at least partially 1nclined conduit the lower end of which islimmersed in water, an enlarged mouth at the lower end thereof, an inflatable elastic air bladder, and a flexible tube leading from the bladder to the enlarged mouth of the conduit in order to feed a continuous sup ly of air bubbles thereto during the deflation of the bladder and thereby pump water upwardly through the conduit for rotating the rotatable member and thereby propelling the to 6. A floating toy comprising a rotatable member for propelling the toy in the body of water on which it floats, means to rotatethe said member including a generally upright conduit the lower end of which is immersed in the said body of water, an enlarged mouth at the lower end thereof, a source of continuous air supply, and a flexible tube leading from the source to the enlarged mouth of the conduit in order to feed a continuous supply of air bubbles thereto and thereby pump water upwardly through the conduit for rotating the rotatable member, and thereby propelling the toy.

7. A toy comprising a floating toy member, means to propel the same including la generally upright but at least partially inclined conduit the lower end of which is immersed in the body of water on which the toy floats, an enlarged mouth at the lower end thereof, a source of continuous air supply, and a flexible tube leading from the source to the enlarged mouth of the conduit in order to feed a continuous supply of air bubbles thereto and thereby pump water upwardly through the conduit lfor propelling the toy.

8. A toy comprising a floating toy member simulating an aquaticA animal, means to actuate the same including a relatively upright conduit the lower end of which 1s imto rotate the same inmersed in the body of water on which the toy floats, and the upper end of which terminates near the head o the animal, an enlarged mouth at the lower end of said conduit, an inflatable elastic air bladder also adapted to float on the body of water, and a flexible tube leading from the bladder to the enlarged mouth of theconduit in order to feed a continuous supply of air bubbles thereto during the deflation of the bladder and thereby pumping water u wardl through the conduit and apparently expe ling the same from the animal. l v s 9. A toy comprising a floating toy member simulating an aquatic animal, means to propel the same including a enerally. upright but at least partially inclined conduit the lower end of which is immersed in the body of water on which the toy floats, and the inclined upper end of which terminates near the head of the animal, an enlarged mouth at the lower end of. said conduit, a

source of continuous air supply, and a flexible tube leadin from the source to the enlarged mouth o the conduit in order to feed a continuous supply of air bubbles thereto, and thereby pumping Water upwardly through the conduit and apparently expelling the same from the animal in a realistic manner, and at the same time propelling the animal.

10. A mill toy comprising a rotatable water wheel, means generally simulating a mill house for rotatably supporting said wheel,

and means to rotate the same includin a relatively upright conduit the lower en of which is immersed in a body of water, and the upper end of which terminates ata point adjacent the periphery of the water wheel, an

enlai'ged mouth at the lower end of said conduit, an inflatable elastic air bladder, anda tube leading from the bladder to the enlarged mouth ,of the conduit in order to feed acontinuous supply of air bubbles thereto during the deflation of the bladder, and thereby umping water upwardly through the con uit and delivering the same to and caus ing rotation of the water wheel.

11. A boat toy comprising a floating toy simulating a boat, a rotatable paddle wheel. mounted on said boat, and means to rotate the same andl propel the boat including a relatively uprightI conduit thek lower` end of which is lmmersed in the body of water on which the boat istravelling, and the upper end of which terminates ad]acent the paddle wheel, an enlarged mouth at the lower end of said conduit, a source of 'continuous air supply, and a flexible tube leadin from the source tothe enlarged mouth of t e conduit in order to feed a continuous supply of air bubbles thereto and. thereby pump water upwardly through the conduit for rotating the paddle Wheel and propelling the boat.

12. A boat toy comprising a floating toy Leeaeo? water, and a flexible tube leading from the bladder to the enlarged mouth of the conduit in order to feed a continuous supply of air bubbles thereto during deation of the bladder and thereby 'ump water upwardly through the conduit or rotating the paddle wheel and propelling the boat.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State' of New York this 19th day of June, A. D. 1929.

LEO-RANNEY. 

